Lunch today at Java Caffe, Durban North, with my Save Our Berea colleague, Cheryl Johnson to catch up on things, since she has been away at the Cannes Film Festival for eighteen days. People think it is two weeks of parties and glamour but Cheryl maintains it involves a lot of work with meetings, trying to secure film opportunities and of course financial backing. I am not saying I dont believe her, but I did have to emphasize that Java Caffe did not have caviar or Dom Perignon on their menu. In the meantime I had to hold the fort back here in Durban with my culinary highlight being Eggs Benedict. My question of why she flew back from Nice on Sunday when the Monaco Grand Prix was taking place up the road from Cannes, drew a withering look. Obviously film people are not into formula one. Java Caffe is one of those efficient establishments where you can expect good service and good food off an interesting menu. Another venue which is good for breakfast and lunch meetings or just chilling with friends.I did a short breakfast review the other day on Java Caffe and at the time I was unaware that John Goldreich had taken over only a few months ago. John has a long track record in the food industry starting off at Cattleman, then Langoustine by the Sea and in more recent times Green Mango and Blue Zoo. I asked him the whereabouts of the very efficient American female waiter who had served me the other day, only to be told that a patron fell in love with her and whisked her away only yesterday. Such is life. You snooze, you lose. Our waiter today was just as efficient and my tramezzini with chicken mayonnaise and avocado was superb. The trick is that the tramezzini is thin and slightly crisp. John Goldreich is busy putting in a pizza oven and was busy passing around pizza for the customers to try. His chef has gone off to train with a leading pizza maker in the midlands somewhere. This will be another winner with a thin base, something which the franchise pizza stores seem unable to do with their conveyer belt cooking method. Cheryl, who was not hungry at all, so she said, went for the bagel with bacon, avocado, feta and tomato which passed with flying colours. This is also a venue that is popular with Sharks rugby players, there were three in attendance, who all seem to live in Durban North or thereabouts and the whole coaching hierarchy were there for breakfast I believe. I am not sure whether Jake White will write a review, but most probably not as he must be busy plotting the downfall of the Stormers this weekend. It was interesting to see the influence of an owner with a proven track record in the food business. Part of the success is the hands-on management. The staff is hopping and patrons are being greeted, many of whom are long time customers. He is all over the place, suggesting what to eat, talking about days gone by, giving out samples of pizza and generally making everybody feel at home. This is all good news for Durban North and it already shows with not an empty table to be seen.
Posted on: Tue, 27 May 2014 13:24:04 +0000
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